British Asian Poet Series: Sandeep Sahota

Though Sandeep is a poet who is born and brought up in Denmark; her connections with the UK run deep as her mother is from the UK and sees it as her second home.

When did your passion for writing poetry begin?

“My fascination of words and language came when I was very young, but my passion for writing poetry began in 2011. In 2011 a family member was diagnosed with cancer, which filled me with anger, sadness and fear. I was scared of having a terrifying sickness around me, that could take away one of the most precious beings in my life. I did not want to show my weakness and make my emotional outburst someone else’s burden. I began writing my thoughts down every day and it fascinated me how it changed me; that my darkest thoughts could result in beautiful poetry. My passion began when I discovered the world of poetry as a world I could escape to when my own world became too much.”

Other than instagram what other platforms do you use to promote your work?

“I mostly use instagram to promote my work.” @_sandeepks

What or who inspires you to write?

“The world around me as well as the world in me. I feel clarity in expressing my feelings and experiences from my interactions with the world around me. I have always been more a listener than a “teller”. When being a listener you begin seeing the world through the eyes of others, which inspires me to write from other point of views, rather than just my own.”

How long have you been writing for?

“I have been writing since I was very young, but started to write poetry in 2011.”

What are some of the main things you discuss in your poetry, is there a message?

“One of the main things I write about is the experience of love and what impact it can have on your development as an individual. It is the romantic and passionate love, the familial love, the love in friendship, the universal love and the self-love.

My poetry also consists of the topic ‘being human’ in a modern Western society and in the modern Indian society. Especially regarding to equality between the sexes, taboos, choosing love over expected family traditions, body ideals, temporary state of minds and the feeling of helplessness of not being able to help those in need, as well as the helplessness of not being helped.”

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

“I have learned never to have expectations of what might happen in the future regarding studies, work and writing. No matter what is expected 5 years from now, I am certain of one thing: I will be with my love.”

When you are not writing what do you do in your spare time? Work, University? And how do you manage to juggle this?

“I study Law at the Copenhagen University. I believe that when you love doing something and you are passionate about it, you will find time for it. To me it is not about juggling things, it is about life itself that is expected not to be consisted of only doing one thing.”

What are some of your favourite poetry that you have written?

“Between the ones I have posted on my Instagram it has to be ‘Blue and Purple Heart’, ‘Fighting for Freedom and ‘Art of you’.”

Which poets influence your work and who are some of your favourites?

“Though my work is not influenced by other poets I am inspired and fascinated by many poets around the world. Jalal ad-Din Rumi, Kabir, Charles Bukowski and Sylvia Plath are some of the poets who inspire me.”

How long does it normally take to write a poem and how do you know where and when to begin?

“Some poems take months to write, starting with just an inspirational word or with a feeling that has to develop into more. Other poems take half an hour to write from getting an idea to knowing what and how to write it. It depends on how my thoughts are developing in my mind and what the poem is about.”

Have you participated in any poetry events in the UK?

“I have not participated in any poetry events but I hope to do so in the near future, as it will be a great opportunity to meet and hear other poets.”

Guest Bindi Blogger: Jessica Chumber
Jessica is a Third Year Journalism Birmingham City University student. Check out her WordPress site and keep up with her blogs: Jessicaschumber.WordPress.com